Affordable Housing in Jacksonville, FL

This page collects the specific programs, agencies, phone numbers, and rules that apply in Jacksonville and Duval County — not generic Section 8 advice. If you need shelter tonight, want to know whether JHA's voucher list is open, or are looking for an organization that can help with this month's rent, the named resources below are where to start.

Emergency Help Tonight in Jacksonville

If you need a safe place to sleep tonight or are facing an imminent eviction, these are the local resources to contact first:

• Sulzbacher Center — Jacksonville's largest emergency shelter and downtown day center. Provides meals, medical and behavioral health care, and case management for adults and families. (904) 359-0457. sulzbachercenter.org
• City Rescue Mission — emergency shelter for men, women, and families, with addiction recovery and life-skills programs. crmjax.org
• Salvation Army Jacksonville Area Command — emergency shelter, food, and rental assistance. salvationarmyflorida.org/jacksonville
• Family Promise of Jacksonville — shelter and case management specifically for families with children
• Hubbard House — domestic violence shelter and 24-hour crisis line: (904) 354-3114. Bilingual advocates available
• Changing Homelessness — Coordinated Entry — single intake point for shelter and housing across Duval, Clay, and Nassau counties. Call 211 to start
• 211 Northeast Florida — free 24/7 information line for shelters, food, financial assistance, and social services

For a full walkthrough of finding shelter the first night, see our emergency housing tonight guide.

Section 8 in Jacksonville: JHA Status and How to Apply

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in Jacksonville are administered by the Jacksonville Housing Authority (JHA), which serves roughly 8,000+ households. Current status:

• The general HCV waitlist is closed as of May 2026 with no scheduled reopening. The last opening ran February 8, 2021 to February 28, 2023
• Mainstream Voucher waitlist: closed January 5, 2026 (last opened January 20, 2025) — these vouchers are for non-elderly people with disabilities. Watch for the next opening
• Elderly (62+) and Disabled HCV waitlist: also closed with no notice of reopening
• Average wait once on the list: approximately 27 months in Jacksonville — longer than national average. Plan for the long haul
• JHA preferences (move applicants up the list): victims of domestic violence, Jacksonville residents who live/work/attend school locally, veterans, and people with disabilities. Document everything when you apply
• Public Housing through JHA — a separate program with its own waitlist. Check status when you call
• Apply to neighboring authorities too: Housing Authority of Clay County, St. Johns County Housing Partnership, and the Florida Housing Finance Corporation run separate lists with their own openings
• Status check: call JHA at (904) 630-3700 if you've already applied and need to verify your position on the list

For the national application process, see our step-by-step Section 8 guide and how to find your PHA.

Emergency Rental Assistance in Jacksonville (Named Programs)

If you're behind on rent or can't pay this month, these are the local programs currently operating in Jacksonville. Funding shifts month to month — always call to confirm current availability:

• City of Jacksonville Emergency Assistance Program — temporary financial help to prevent eviction or utility shut-off. You need a delinquent notice, eviction notice, or shut-off notice to qualify. Call (904) 255-2469. Office at 1809 Art Museum Drive, Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32207
• Jacksonville Eviction Diversion Program (JEDP) — launched in 2024 as a partnership between the City of Jacksonville, United Way of Northeast Florida, the 4th Judicial Circuit Court, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA), and LJD Jewish Family & Community Services. Can pay up to 3 months of back rent, utilities, or home energy costs. Stabilizes housing for at least 6 months after assistance. jacksonvilleevictiondiversion.org
• Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) — free legal representation for tenants facing eviction. jaxlegalaid.org · (904) 356-8371
• LJD Jewish Family & Community Services (JFCS) — rental assistance, case management, food, and counseling. Open to all faiths and backgrounds
• Catholic Charities of Jacksonville — emergency financial assistance, food, immigration services, and case management. Spanish-language services available
• St. Vincent de Paul Society of Jacksonville — one-time emergency rental and utility help through local parish conferences
• Salvation Army of Jacksonville — eviction prevention assistance and utility help
• Mental Health Resource Center — housing assistance for people with serious mental illness

The federal ERAP era has ended

The federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) that distributed pandemic funds through the city has closed. All those funds are spent. The current programs are the City Emergency Assistance Program, the Jacksonville Eviction Diversion Program, and the named nonprofits listed above. Don't waste time on old 2021–2023 application portals.

Utility assistance: LIHEAP

In Florida, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is administered locally — in Duval County by JFCS and other Community Action partners. Cooling assistance is critical in the summer heat. Apply by calling 211 or contacting JFCS. Lowering your utility bill frees up cash for rent.

Tenant Rights in Florida

Florida has a landlord-friendly legal framework. Knowing the specific rules in Jacksonville can save your tenancy:

• No source-of-income protection: Florida does not have a statewide law preventing landlords from refusing Section 8 vouchers. Jacksonville has no local ordinance either. Finding a landlord who already accepts vouchers is part of the work — JHA maintains a list of participating landlords
• No rent control allowed: Florida Statute 125.0103 prohibits cities and counties from passing local rent-control ordinances except in a declared housing emergency (which is very rare). Jacksonville landlords can raise rent freely at lease end
• 3-day notice for nonpayment (Florida Statute §83.56) — excludes Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. Among the shortest in the country. Act fast
• Security deposit return: within 15 days with no deductions, or 30 days with itemized deductions sent by certified mail (FS §83.49). Florida does not cap deposit amounts
• Warranty of habitability: Florida Statute §83.51 requires landlords to comply with building, housing, and health codes; provide working plumbing, heat in winter, hot water, and structural soundness
• Notice to end month-to-month: 15 days from either side under FS §83.57
• Retaliatory eviction is illegal under FS §83.64 if you've complained about code violations or organized other tenants within the prior year
• Self-help eviction is illegal: changing locks, shutting off utilities, or removing belongings violates FS §83.67 — the landlord can be liable for 3 months' rent plus damages
• Fair housing: discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability is illegal under federal and Florida law (Florida Fair Housing Act). The Jacksonville Human Rights Commission handles local intakes

For free legal help: Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) and Three Rivers Legal Services serve low-income tenants in Duval County. For state-level details, see our Florida housing resources. If you experience discrimination, see how to file a housing discrimination complaint.

Other Housing Programs in Jacksonville

• Public housing: JHA owns apartment communities including Brentwood Lakes, Eureka Garden, and others. The public housing waitlist is separate from Section 8
• LIHTC (Tax Credit): privately owned income-restricted apartments. Search HUD's LIHTC database for properties in Duval County. See how to find LIHTC housing
• HUD-VASH (veterans): combines a voucher with VA case management. Jacksonville-area veterans referred through the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System. See how to apply for HUD-VASH
• Rapid Rehousing & Permanent Supportive Housing — coordinated through Changing Homelessness (the Continuum of Care lead agency). Access via Coordinated Entry (call 211)
• Florida Housing Finance Corporation programs — includes the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) administered by the City of Jacksonville for down-payment assistance and home repair
• HUD-approved housing counseling: find a counselor through the HUD counselor locator — Family Foundations and Jacksonville Urban League offer counseling

Next Steps

Not sure which program is right for you? Our Where to Start tool asks a few quick questions about your situation — emergency vs. long-term, family vs. individual, employed vs. on benefits — and routes you to the right combination of programs. It takes about two minutes.

If you're already on the JHA waitlist and just need to verify your position, the fastest path is calling (904) 630-3700. If you got a 3-day notice or eviction summons, call Jacksonville Area Legal Aid at (904) 356-8371 immediately and ask about the Eviction Diversion Program — every day counts.